Discovered by a local farmer in the late 19th-century, this is one of Gran Canaria's most important pre-Hispanic sites: a cave adorned with geometric shapes, thought to relate to the lunar and solar calendars. It is also the most accessible of the island's archaeological sites, situated not halfway up a cliff but right in the heart of the town (it is wheelchair-friendly).
The museum complex features videos and reconstructions shedding light onto local life before the conquistadors arrived, and showcases the 5000-sq-metre excavated site where the remains of cave houses have been dug out from the volcanic rock. The highlight is the painted cave itself. While you can visit independently, the guided 90-minute tour is highly recommended. Try to book in advance via the website – there is a limit of 20 people on each tour so you might end up disappointed if you just show up.
In order to prevent further deterioration to the paintings, the cave is open at set times (too many to list here!) and you can only view the paintings for up to four minutes, from behind a window. In the decade after 1972 the colours of the pigments were reduced by a shocking 50% due to the constant stream of visitors.
